Aerial cannon ammunition feed assist accessory mechanism



J. C. TROTTER ET AL Aug. 23, 1945.

Filed June 10, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS ohnQTroHer;

S Y E N R m A J. .c. TROTTER ET AL AERIAL CANNON AMMUNITION FEED ASSIST ACCESSORY MECHANISM FiqLed June lO, 194l 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JohnCTrofler & JohnLJeWefl ATTORNEYS ,1 J. c. TROTTER HAL 2,383,830

AERIAL CANNON AMMUNITION FEED ASSIST ACCESSORY MECHANISM 0, ,Mv ATTORNEYS AERIAL CANNON AMMUNITION FEED ASSIST ACCESSORY MECHANISM Filed June 10, '1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ow ww INVENTORS John Cflrofler & fJohn LJaweiI, B C 3 ca fi g MATTORNEYS J. C. TROTTER El AL AERIAL CANNON AMMUNITION FEED ASSIST ACCESSORY MECHANISM a Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 10, 1941 ii a M i Fig.5.

I I fir I lohwsam 2 JohnhJewefl, Q ay Q ATTORNEYS cannon socssso John G. Trotter, ett, Bufl'alo, N. E,

Coration, Bufl'alo, 7 Application June 10, 1941, k

8 Claims. ('63. 89-33) This invention relates to rapid firing guns, and more particularly to an improved means for feeding ammunition thereto. One of the obiects of the invention is to provide an improved ammunition feed accessory device adapted to be mounted in conjunction with an aerial cannon within a relatively restricted space, such as in an airplane wing or the like. Another obiectof the invention is to provide an automatic gun cartridge belt feed device which is adapted to segregate cartridges and cartridge connecting links prior to entrance of the cartridges into the gun feedway, in an improved manner. Another object of the invention is toprovide an improved cartridge belt feed accessory device for automatic guns which is adapted to feed the cartridge bdt to the gun in an improved manner. Other objects andadtages of the invention will be apparent from the specification hereinafter.

H In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan of an aerial canthroat to in the general form of a closed sleeve of rectangular sectional form for guiding the movement of the cartridges or shells to from th mag- 1 the magazine M at an upper side wall portion non and-an ammunition feed accessory device of s the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially along line 11-4101 Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially along line IIIIII of Fig-1;and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the gun and feed mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 isasection, on an enlarged scale, taken along line VV of Fig. l I

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to. 3 of another form of the invention;

Fig. '7 is a section taken alongline VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a detail oi Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the guide throat casing of the device of Fig. 6.

The invention is illustrated in Figs. 1-5 oithe drawings in conjunction with a gun It or the socalled aerial cannon type which is shown mounted within an airplane wing cell indicated generally at 12 (Figs. 2 and 3). An ammunition magazine M- is also mounted within the wing cell it at one side of the gun l0 so as to be adapted to contain a supply of shells, it for the gun. The shells are connected in articulated manner by means of conventional open top type links it, so as to form a continuous ammunition belt adapted to be folded and nested within the magazine as preparatory to feeding to the gun. The gun it i provided with an ammunition feedway 88 in registry with the breach mechanism thereof.

The accessory feed device comprises a feed thereof.- Consequently, the general s 1 of the parts enables the gun and magazine and feed mechanism to be compactly nested within the relatively restricted space provided interiorly ofthe To motivate the shells or cartridges it from the magazine M and into the gun ammunition ieedway, a train of sprocket wheels. 25 is provided adjacent the lower wall portion of the throat to; each of the wheels 25 being rotatably mounted by means of suitable shafting upon a bracket structure 21 extending below the throat.

to. The lower wall of the throat 201s slotted as at 29 in the region of the star wheels 28, and the star wheels are so mounted upon the bracket 21 as to have their finger portions extending upwardly through the slotted portion 28 of the throat as for geared engagement with the cartridge belt when disposed within the throat it. The star wheels 28 are arranged to be rotated in the necessary direction for prormlsion of the shells It toward the gun feedway end portion of the throat 28 by means of a train of meshed indicated generally at St; the gears 86 being also mounted upon the bracket 21 by means of shafts 3! and keyed to the star wheels 25 so that the star wheels 25 rotate simultaneously.

To drive the gear train 89 one of the star wheel shafts 32 is extended and coupled through means of a friction clutch it to a drive shaft 38; a pilot connection at 3B maintaining the shafts 32-38 in axial alignment. A compression spring 38 is fitted between an axially fixed bearing disc 8i and the friction clutch device 88 for urging the latter at all times to frictionally interconnect the shafts St and 32. The drive shaft is is connected to the inner end of a hat clock-type 'coil spring 66, the outer end of which is lined to a housing t2 which'is rotatably carried upon the shaft 36 by a bearing portion 43 and is peripherally toothed at as in the manner of a ratchet wheel. A lever 66 (Figs. 3 and 5) is rotatably carried at one of its ends uponthe'shaft 88 and carries at its outer end a pin 41 supporting a ratchet pawl ii for driving the ratchet casing 44 in response to oscillation of the lever 48. A spacer l8 and a link N (Fig. mount upon the pin 48 and the shaft; 36 behind the bearing disc 39 to complete a swingable ratchet pawl device.

A pitman 5i (Fig, 3) connects the spacer 49 with a pin 52 extending from a free end of a bell crank 53 which is pivotally mounted upon a. shaft 54 similar to the shaft 38.

The bell crank 53 is formed with a gear segment 56 concentric of the axis of rotation about the shaft 54 for meshed engagement with a gear segment portion 58 of a lever 60 which is plvotally mounted at 62 upon a wall portion of the throatcasihg. At its opposite end the lever 60 carries a roller 65 for engagement with an inclined track portion 61 of a cam bar 68 which is arranged in longitudinally adjustable connection at 69 with a ,bolt 70 extending from a portion of the gun III which re'ciprocates in response to recoil forces when the gun is firing. Hence, upon firing of the guh Hi the cam 68 reciprocates in synchronism with the gun firing operation to cause the rocker 60 to oscillate in such manner as to intermittently drive the spring motor casing 42 in counter clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 through the ratchet-pawl mechanism 48. A spring pressed pawl H is mounted upon stationary portions of the throat casing for operative connection with the ratchet teeth 44 to stop the housing 42 against return movements intermediately of driving operations of the pawl 48. Thus, the outer end portion of the driving spring 40 is rotated in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, and there is thus transmitted to the drive shaft 38 springgun. However, it will be understood that the.

and then to slide downwardly through the chute 15. The chute II is provided with a cuff portion 80 which is disposed below the case ejecting port of the gun Ill so as to convey the'empty cartridge cases as they are ejected by the gun through the wing cell for discharge into the airstream below the airplane. A door 82 is hinged at 84 to the chute structure -40, and is spring urged so as to normally remain closed to complete the airplane wing contour, but it will be understood that the weight of accumulated links and cases upon the door 82 will cause the latter to periodically open for discharge of the contents of the chute.

Preferably, a sprocket wheel device 90 is rotatably mounted by means of a shaft 92 within a suitably apertured portion of the upper wall of the throat 20 substantially opposite the leading edge of the link receiving aperture 11 of the lower wall portion of the throat 20. The sprocket device 90 is arranged to register with the links I6 as they move into registry with the chute 15 so as to bear against the trailing end portion of each succeeding link as it pivots preparatory to entrance into the chute 15. Thus, the links are prevented from simply rotating at their rear end portions about the engaging cartridges so as to remain suspended therefrom as the cartridges proceed toward the gun feedway as would otherwise cause jamming of the cartridge feeding operation.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the links I6 engage the shells l5 intermediately of their ends and adjacent shouldered portions ofthe shells so that links and shells are thereby disengaged. The

cam adjustment will be preferably so arranged that the rocker operation provides slightly more than the required star wheel driving action, and that as the spring 40 becomes overloaded with the star wheels under full torque. the friction clutch 34 will slip to absorb the overrunning operation of-the cam and rocker mechanism.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the threat! is laterally distorted in plan view in such manner that the opposed side wall portions of the throat member 20 are adapted to. cam the shells or cartridges l5 endwise as they approach thegun feedway whereby the enlarged body portions of the cartridges are displaced out of connection with the corresponding curved finger portions .of the connecting link devices l6. whereby the links ii are freed to fall into a link ejection chute 15 disposed below the throat 20: and in registry with an apertured wall portion 11 thereof; it bein understood that the links l6 are of the convene tion open side type and adapted to remain engaged only upon the larger diameter portions-of the shells which are dimensioned to fit the link recesses snugly Thus, as illustrated in Fig.2, just prior to arrival of each successive cartridge over the aperture 11 in the lower wall of the throat n. t ecartrldges engaginceach successive link IE will be cammed endwise out of engagement with the link so that the latter is free to pivot sprocket wheels 25 are relatively arranged so as belt and to maintain the links it in unchanged alignment while passing through the mechanism of the invention, thus preventing lateral shifting' of the links I! coincident with shifting of the cartridges I5 for disengaging purposes under the camming action of the oblique side walls of the feed throat.

A second spring motor unit similar to the motor unit of the spring 0 is arranged in conjunction with the shaft 54, and is designated generally at 93. The spring motor unit 93 also comprises a casing having a ratchet-toothed portion for cooperation with pawls 94 and in the manner of the arrangement of the spring motor unit in conjunction with the drive shaft 36. The shaft 54 is arranged to drive through a friction clutch 96 a sprocket 91 corresponding to the sprockets 25 for conveying the shells l5 over the region of the link outlet aperture 11, and as illustrated in Fig. 1, the sprocket 91 is disposed in plan view so as to avoid interference with passage of links it through apertured portion 11 0f the throat casing for conveyance of the links through the discharge chute IS. A similar sprocket 98 is rotatably car ried in opposed relation with respect to the placed sprockets 01-48 whichbperatein syn- -chronism with the driving sprockets 25, and thus the shells I5 are positivelydriven and directed through the throat 20 into the gun cartridge feed structure designated at I02. The cartridge feed throat is indicated generally at I04 as being generally similar to the feed throat of Figs. 1 to 5,

and it will be understood that the reed throat I04 comprises essentially a closed conduit of a spring I32 into operative engagement with a ratchet toothed portion I34 01 the shell I22; A second pawl I36 is pivotally mounted by means of a pin I31 to a stationary portion of the structure of the throat I05 and is arranged to be spring-pressed by means ofa spring I38 into operative engagement with the toothed portion I86 of the shell I22 in such manner as to pre-.- vent theshell I22 from rotating in a. clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6, but to allow the casing I22 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. Thus, upon oscillation of the lever II2,

rectangular sectional form "for accommodating the shells IS in laterally sliding relation for passage through the-throat I05 into the cartridge I feedway of the'gun. It will be understood that the feed throat I00 is formedobliquely in plan view, as in the case of the device of Fig. 1, for automatic disengagement of the cartridges I5 from the links It as explained herelnabove. However, in this form of the invention it is pre-- ierred that the links I0 be arranged in invertedattitude and carried upon the upper portions of the corresponding shells I5, as illustrated by Fig; 6. A link guideway I05 is mounted upon the for driving engagement with successive cartridges as the cartridge belt reeds into the throat. The sprockets I05 are arranged to be driven by a train of gearing, a. portion of which is indicated at I08, and the gearing is arranged to be driven by a power supply shaft IIO which corresponds to the power supply shaft 32 of Figs; 1 to 5.

The power supply shaft II 0 is arranged to be actuated. in a continuously rotating manner through means of a resilient power transmission device which is in turn arranged to be actuated by the recoilmotion of a reciprocating part of -as a result of the recoil operation of the gun,

as explained hereinabove in connection with the form of the invention of Figs. 1 to 5, the casing I20 will be caused to oscillate while the shell I22 will be driven counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6 with intermittently applied power impulses.

A clock-type coil spring I40 is operatively connected at its outer and inner ends with the shell I22 and the drive shaft 0, respectively, for translating the intermittent power impulses imposed upon the shell I22 into continuous rota tion of the shaft IIO. For this purpose a clutch plate, I42 of leaf spring form is arranged within the shell I22 and is so dimensioned as to fit therein in frictional engaging relation with the inner same directionand to thereby pull the outer end portionof the spring I40 also in a counterclockwise direction. At its ''inner end the spring I40 isiormed with an inwardly bent finger portion for engagement with a ratchet toothed portion. I68 of the drive shaft M0, the interconnection being so arranged that, counter-clockwise movement or the spring I40 tends to rotate the the gun it. For this purpose a lever H2 is pivotallymounted upon a stationary casing portion of the feed throat I04 by means of a pivot pin lid, and carries at its outer end a roller IIG which corresponds to the roller 65 of- Figs. 1 to 4. At its opposite end II'I the lever H2 is oi gear segment form for drivin connection with a toothed member II8 extending from a cuplike casing I20. The'casing I20 is formed goncentrically of the shaft H0 and substantially encloses a driving shell I22 which is also concentric of the shaft H0 and rotatably mounted thereupon bymeans of a reduced extending end portion I26. The casing I20 is provided with a similar reduced extending end portion I26 which encompasses the bearing portion I24, and thus the casing I20 and the shell I22 are both rotatably mounted and carried by the shaft I I0. A detachable annular flange I2I is arranged to be screw-threaded into engagement with the casing I20 upon assembly of the device for maintaining .the casing and shell members in operative. relation.

A driving connection device for transmittin power impulses from the casing I20 to the shell I22 i providedin the form of a pawl I30 which is plvotally mounted by means of a pin IBI upon the casing I29 and spring-pressedby means of shaft H0 in similar direction, but the shaft H0 is free to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction independently of such movement of the spring I80, as during manual charging of the cartridge belt into operative connection with the feed pawl mechanism of the gun prior to firing of the latter.

Thus, it will be understood that upon oscillaspring Itfi'with power to drive the sprocket driv 1 shaft I I0 in continuous manner, whereby the cartrldge belt will be fed smoothly to the gun I00 V as long as the firing operation continues. Upon. cessation oi the gun firing operation the cartridge ing operations.

feeding operation will automatically cease, and

the power transmission mechanisrn'of the inven tion will at all times function to eliminate jerks and strains upon the mechanism during starting and stopping of the gun firing and cartridge feed- It will also be understood that in thelevent the operationof driving the spring I40 exceeds the power supply demands upon the spring, the spring will become excessively 'tensioned and willclutch plate will be enabled to slip relative to the shell I22, and the driving pawl mechanism will be enabled to overrun the driving spring portion of the mechanism until such time as further tensioning of the spring I40 is required. Thereupon the clutch plate will be automatically permitted to return to frictional engaging relation with respect to the shell I22, and the spring driving operation will continue.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, an end wall'portion of the casing structure is formed to provide a trackway I50 for the shells I5, and is so arranged as to divert the shells successively from the feed throat I04 into the cartridge feedway I52 of the gun. Link'support plates I54 and I55 are mounted upon the throat I04 and are arranged to extend in opposed relation and in substantially horizontal alignment with the bottom of the shell trackway within the throat [04 for engaging the links I6 after they become disconnected from the cartridges I5. The plates ISL-I56 are so proportioned and arranged as to provide no interference with passage of the cartridges IE5 into the gun cartridge feedway, but they cooperate to prevent the links It from falling thereinto and act to convey the links into a link ejection chute 958 arranged at the opposite side of the gun it. Thus, upon driving of the cartridge belt through the feed throat l 06 under the action of the drive sprockets l (it, the cartridges are automatically 422 is formed with a central boss portion aer which is provided with an angularly shaped central opening not adapted toslidably receive the key shaped end of a manually operable crank (not shown) whereby the shell I22 may be manually rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 to'pre-load the drive spring l 3d preparatory to automatic operation. of the ammunition feed mechanism. Thus, upon initial charging of the gun preliminary to combat 0D- erations the drive spring I46 may be pre-loaded by manual rotation of the shell I22 to a condition of tension suflicient to impose a cartridge belt feeding thrust upon the drive sprocket system of the device so that immediately upon commencement of a firing operation and attendant movement of cartridges through the gun the drive sprocket mechanism of the invention will simultaneously motivate the cartridge belt so as in conjunction with any type of automatic gun or cannon or the like whereby the oscillativemovement of actuating parts thereof are automatically translated and transmitted to the feed accessory mechanism in an improved manner for feeding the cartridge belt to the gun in an improved manner. It'will also .be understood that the -mechanism of the invention is particularly advantageous and of improved form because of its compactness and close adherence to th 2 associate gun, whereby minimum space is required for installation of the device of the invention, and marked advantages in connection with aerial machine guns and cannons such as wing-mount types are made available. Although only a limited number of forms of the invention have been shown and described in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made thereiniwithout departing from the spirit of the inventibn or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A gun ammunition feed accessory device adapted to bemounted in conjunction with the ammunition feedway of a gun for feeding to the gun an ammunition [belt comprising ammunition rounds linked by corresponding rounds-encircling links in articulated relation. said feed accessory device comprising a guide member having opposed side and top and bottom wall portions adapted to slidably encompass the lbelted ammunition when trained thereinto for guiding the ammunition rounds thereof into the ammunition feedway of the gun, sprocket means rot-atahly mounted upon said guide member to extend into geared engagement with successive of said ammunition rounds when feeding interiorly of said guide memher, said sprocket means being disposed with corresponding side edge portions thereof in directional alignment with corresponding side edge portions of said links as they enter said guide member whereby said sprocket means slldably engage against and guide said links to move in a predetermined direction while'passing through said guide member, the side wall portions of said guide member at positions intermediately of the ends thereof being inclined relative to the sprocket-guided direction of movement of said links whereby as the cartridge belt moves through said guide member the ammunition rounds thereof are successively cammed endwlse by said guide side Wall portions while said links are maintained by said sprocket means against similar cammed displacement so as to withdraw said ammunition rounds successively from attachment with the links thereof. said guide member having a link ejection opening extending through a wall portion thereof disposed in registry with the positions of said links subsequent to their becomrounds linked by corresponding rounds-encircling 1 links in articulated relation, said ieed accessory device comprising generally a guide member having opposed'side and top and bottom wall portions adapted to slidably encompass the ammunition belt when trained thereinto for guiding the ammunition rounds thereof into the ammunition feedway of the gun, rotarydrive means mounted upon said guide member to extend into geared engagement with said ammunition belt when disposed interiorly of said guide member for driving the ammunition rounds to'feed the gun, said 7 drive means being disposed with corresponding side edge portions thereof in directional alignment with corresponding side edge portions of said links as they enter'said guide memlber whereassaaeo by said sprocket means slidably engage against and guide said links to move in a predetermined direction while through said guide member, a side wall portion of said guide member being inclined relative to the guided direction of movement of said links whereby as the cartridge belt moves through said guide member the ammunition rounds thereof are successively cammed endwise by said guide side wall portion while said links are maintained by said drive means against similar cammed displacement so as to withdraw said rounds from attachment with said links.

3. A gun ammunition feed, accessory device adapted to be mounted in conjunction with the ammunition-feedway of a gun for feeding to the gun an ammunition belt comprising ammunition rounds clamped by corresponding rounds-encircling links in articulated relation, said feed accessory device comprising a guide member having opposed side and top and bottom wall portions adapted to slidably encompass the ammunition belt when trained thereinto for guiding the ammunition rounds thereof into the ammunition feedway of the gun, drive-means mounted upon said guide member to extend into geared engagement with said ammunition belt when disposed interiorly of said guide member for driving the ammunition to feed the gun, said drive means hemove ing disposed to positively guide said links to in a predetermined direction while i through said guide member, the side wall portions of said guide member being inclined relative to the drive means guided direction of movement of said links and disposed to slidably engage said rounds whereby as the cartridge belt moves through said guide member the ammunition rounds thereof are successively endwise by said guide side wall portions and thereby detached from theilinks thereof while the latter are maintained by said drive means to move in as to disp the larger .5

said predetermined direction.

a A gun ammunition reed device adapted to be mounted in couiunction th the ammunition feedway of a gun for feeding to the gun an unition fbelt comprising ammunition rounds of longitudinally by parti-circular links ads to grip rounds only at the larger diameter portions thereoi to provide an articulated ammunition belt, said feed accessory device comprising a guide member having wall portions adapted to slily --n;--:i the ammunition belt rwhen J t thereinto for guiding the ammunition rounds thereof into'the ammunition feedway of the gun,

drive sprocket means'mounted upon said guide member to extend into geared engagement with successive of said ammunition rounds and adapted to be driven to feed said belted a unition through the interior of said'guide member,-

said sprocket means being with corresponding side edge portions th in. directional alignment with corresponding side edge portions of said links'as they enter said guide t :1 w e eby said procket slidably against and positively guide said links to mov' ina predetermined direction while being driven by said sprocket means to move through said guide member, said guide member having a side wall saidlinks be 5. A gun ammunition feed accessory device adapted to be mounted in conjunction with the ammunition feedway of a gun for feeding to the gun an ammunition belt comprising ammunition rounds of longitudinally tapering form. linked by parti-circular links adapted to grip said rounds only at the larger diameter portions thereof to provide an articulated ammunition belt,

=- essory device comprising B t: wall portions adapted to slidably encompass the ammunition belt when trained thereinto for guiding the ammunition rounds thereof into the ammunition feedway of the gun, drive sprocket means mounted upon said guide member to extend into geared engagement with successive of'said ammunition rounds and adapted tocbe driven to feed said belted ammunition through the interior of saidsuide member, said sprocket means being disposed with corresponding side edge portions thereof in directional align-- ment with corresponding side edge portions of said links as they enter said guide member whereby said sprocket means slidably engage against and positively guide said links to move in a prethe from links. guide n use-2 port through disposed in -uent to their w ungri from said rounds, said ejection wrt being adapted to permit said to rail therethro gh while preventing said rounds from passtherela 6. A gun ammunition feed accessory device adapted to be mounted in coniunction with the ammunition fway of ,a gun for feeding to the the nition belt when t guiding the ammunition Wllildsthereof m the v ammunition feed or the drive sprock t tions thereofin directional portion inclined relative to the guided direction of movement of said linlm whereby as the cartridge belt moves through said guide member the ammunition rounds thereof are successively cammed endwise bysaidiguide side wall portion whilesaidlinksaremaintainedbysaidsprocket against similar cammed dispent so guide providean cul'ated 11 1.:-

gun an ammunition belt comp ammunition rounds oi longitu iormlinked by parti-circmar links adapt d to grip said rounds only at the ger eter portions thereof to unition belt, said links being to overlie said said feed accessory device com' ing wallportions adapted'to slit 6 pass thereinto for means mounted upon said guide her to extendinto I eases u with successive of said ammunition rounds and adapted to bedriven' to feed said. belted unition'througn the interior of said guide member, said sprocket means being disposed with'cor :side edge pornment with correspondingside edge portions of said linksas they enter said guide member whereby said sprocket means slidably e against and positively snide said was link' to'moveina direction while to move thrown s a. guide member. said having a side wail'portion inas to displace the larger diameter portions or the rounds from gripped positions within said links.

disposed to underlie said rounds,

-= with the positions of said.

;. a guide memberhavdriven by said sprocke' t are maintained by said sprocket means against similar cammed displacement so as to displace the larger diameter portions of the rounds 'from gripped positions within said links, said guide member having' a link election port at the end thereof opposite to the reed-in end thereof and 'clined relative to the guided direction of movean ammunition round ejection port through a bottom portion thereof disposed intermediately of said link ejection end and said feed-in end portions thereof and in registry-with the positions of said rounds subsequent to their becoming ungripped iron. said links, said ejection port being adapted to p: :mit said rounds to fall therethrough while preventing said links from passing therethrough.

JOHN C. TRO'I'I'ER. JOHN L. JEWE'IT. 

